Design
Landscape
Remember elements,
principles, components/
measurements and
symbols used to develop
plans
John M. Hess
Elements of Design
Design Elements create
moods or feeling of
the Observer:
Form- Geometric shape
or combination of shapes
Elements of Design
■ Line – Continuity of a
landscape….Flow of
the landscape
■ Straight lines =
direction change
■ Curved lines= relaxed
movement
Element of Design
■ Texture: Coarse or fine materials used.
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Examples. Size differences of
leaves
stones
brick
bark
Elements of Design: Overview
■ The five elements of landscape design include:
■ • Color - It is important to use a complementing color scheme
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throughout the yard.
• Line - Linear patterns are used to direct physical movement
and to draw attention to areas in your garden.
• Form - Form can be expressed through trees and shrubs of
various shapes and sizes which create natural patterns.
• Texture - Plants with varying textures can add to the
atmosphere of your outdoor area.
• Scale - Your outdoor design should balance the size of the
buildings it surrounds, while maintaining a comfortable
environment for the individuals who will use the area.
Principles of Design
■ Principles of design- Standards by which
designs can be created, measured,
discussed and evaluated.
Principles of Design
■ Balance: Even distribution of materials on
opposite sides of a central axis.
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Symmetric – both sides are identical (mirror
image).
Asymmetric – visual weight on opposite sides
is the same, but materials used and their
placement may vary.
Proximal/Distal – Same as asymmetric with
depth in the field of vision added.
Balance:
Symmetric:
Formal Balance
Asymmetric:
Informal Balance
Proximal / Distal:
Principles of Design:
■ Focalization – Selects and positions visually
strong items into landscape. Catchs and
draws viewer to key feature in landscape.
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Hardscapes
Color movement
Unique plant
or Specimen plant
Principles of Design:
■ Simplicity – Seeks to make the viewer feel
comfortable within the landscape.
Principles of Design:
■ Proportion – Concerned with size relationship
between all the features of the landscape.
Principles of Design:
■ Rhythm and Line: When something repeats
itself enough times with a standard distance
between repetitions, rhythm is established.
Principles of Design:
■ Unity – The master principle combining all
other principles. Total design
Methods of Grouping Plants
■ Corner Planting – Planting is placed at the
corner of a landscape. One of the more
natural locations for a focal point.
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Bench
Specimen plant
Hardscape
Methods of Grouping Plants
■ Foundation Planting – Plants lining walls or
walkways to soften edges. Can be used to
draw attention to entrances or openings.
Methods of Grouping Plants:
■ Line Planting – Creates a wall or line in the
landscape. Used as screening or privacy.
Helps to create outdoor living area.
Methods of Grouping Plants:
■ Mass Planting – A group of [plants that fill a
large area or cluster in the landscape.
Methods of Grouping Plants:
■ Accent Plant – Creates a particular beauty or
interest in the landscape. Used to draw
viewer’s eye to an area, or to create an
illusion that area is larger than it appears.
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Accent plants should not be placed in middle of
lawn area.
Accent Plant : Examples
Criteria for Lettering/Numbering Plans
and for using scales.
■ Use single strokes when forming
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letters/numbers.
Always use all CAPITAL (upper case) letters.
Use light strokes when lettering/numbering to
avoid smudges.
Draw letters/numbers vertically.
Use appropriate spacing when
lettering/numbering. Use guidelines always.
Show uniformity in letters/numbers.
Examples of Lettering: 1
Lettering Examples: 2
Using Scales:
■ Architect / engineering scales may be used to
represent actual dimensions of land / objects
on paper.
■ The scale is NOT used as a straight edge. It
is a measuring device only.
■ Architect scales hold several units of measure
for sizing to paper.
■ NOTICE** Rulers are kings and queens, not
items for drawing or measuring.
Symbols for diagrams/ Layouts
■ Evergreen Tree:
Symbols for Diagrams / Layouts
■ Deciduous Tree:
Shrub Symbols
■ Evergreen:
■ Deciduous:
Ground Cover Symbols
■ Ground Cover:
Annual Plant Symbols:
■ On a landscape plan, annuals do not have a
symbol. One must simply draw an arrow on
the plan to the area where annuals are to be
planted and put the word “Note”. Then in the
listing of plants, the annuals are listed by the
word note.
Symbols:
■ Paver- Brick:
Symbols:
■ Water feature: Depending on the feature the
symbol normally takes the relative bird’s eye
view of the feature, shape outline. Small
water feature are normally symbolized as a
circle with a center dot ( circle should be to
scale of feature).
Symbols:
■ Lighting: Lighting symbols are based on
design of lighting, lights can be represented
by filled squares, circles, triangles. Symbols
in a series should be connected by a line to
represent circuit and power source.
■ Triangles represent hanging light fixtures.
■ Circles and squares normally represent fixed
lights of the approximate shape of symbol.
Symbols: Patios, Decks, Drives
■ Concrete, Wood, Brick and Stone
Miscellaneous Symbols
■ North Arrow:
■ Scale: ¼” = 1’
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Scale is located in title box
■ Title Box: Holds all
vendor /client and
drawing information.
Legal and binding.
Irrigation System Components:
■ Sprinkler Irrigation –
Applies water
under pressure
over the tops of plants.
Irrigation System Components
■ Drip /Trickle Irrigation – Supplies water
directly to the root system of the plant.
Types of Sprinkler Heads:
■ Spray head – Water is distributed in a set
pattern over a fixed area.
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No moving parts normally.
Propels water 14 -16 ft, before wind affects
pattern.
Most commonly use for shrubs and flower beds.
Types of Sprinkler Heads:
■ Rotary Sprinklers – Have moving parts, Some
are pop – ups.
■ Move in full circle or partial circles.
■ Throw water up to 110 ft.
■ Gear or impact driven.
Types of Sprinkler Heads:
■ Pop – up Sprinklers – Sprinkler heads rise
above ground when water pressure is
applied, Return to ground level when
pressure is released.
■ Positive retract use a spring to return nozzle
to ground level.
■ May be rotary sprinklers or fix spray heads.
Pop – up Sprinklers: Examples
Types of Sprinkler Heads:
■ Emitters – A device to take the place of a
sprinkler head for trickle irrigation.
Types of Sprinkler Heads:
■ Microspray – Low volumeemission device
that waters the entire hydrozone and
operates similarly to conventional spray
heads, but at much lower flow rates.
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Drip irrigation uses up to 50 % less water than
sprinkler systems.
Uses 150 -200 micron mesh filter to prevent
clogging.
Other Irrigation Components:
■ Back Flow Preventer – Device that ensures
water from irrigation system does not return
back to main water source.
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This is required in some counties if on city water.
Other Irrigation Components:
■ Remote Control Valves – Devices that open
and close to allow water flow through pipes.
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Placed in the water line and controlled by an
electrical contact with the irrigation system
controller.
Other Sprinkler Components:
■ Controller – The device that
automatically opens/ closes
the valves in the irrigation system
according to the preset program.
Sold based on the number of
valves to be controlled.
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■ Controllers are programable.
Other Sprinkler Components
■ Program – A set of instructions for the
controller to follow : Days for watering, water
flow & length. (Some will skip days based of
rain).
■ Zone – Area or grouping of sprinklers,
operating on a certain control valve.
■ Cycle – One complete run of a controller
through its programmed stations/ zones.
Other Sprinkler Components:
■ Main Line – Main source of water in an
irrigation system, has water flow or pressure
at all times.
■ Lateral Line –
Secondary line of
an irrigation system
that has water
flow / pressure
when valve is open.
Irrigation Measurements:
■ GPM – Gallons per minute. Rate of water flow
through an irrigation system, time = 1 minute.
■ GPH – Gallons per hour. Rate of water flow
through an irrigation system, time = 1 hour.
■ PSI – Pounds per square inch. Measure of
force at which water moves through the
irrigation system.
Irrigation Symbols:
■ Irrigation Symbols are normally a universal
system, some symbols may differ based on
designer or design program. Check out the
site below to see a auto - cad system’s
symbols.
■ www.Softwarerepublic.com